Celebrating the Success of the Ready Kids East County Resource Fair

On April 12, First 5 Contra Costa hosted the Ready Kids East County Resource Fair at the Marina Community Center in Pittsburg, bringing together over 20 community partners to support Black and African American families with children in East County.
More than 60 families took part in an interactive ‘womb to classroom’ journey, exploring the many stages of early childhood—from pregnancy through kindergarten. Along the way, families connected with a wide range of service providers offering support in perinatal and maternal health, parent education and support, early literacy programs, child care, education, and health services. Each stop on the journey provided families tools and knowledge to support their children’s growth at every stage.

Participants also contributed to a community mural by adding their handprints to a collaborative artwork that symbolizes shared connections. Each family also received a tote bag featuring artwork by local artist Kya Cook filled with family-friendly swag items. Activities, such as a drumming circle led by The Peaceful Warriors, balloon animals, face painting, and lunch from DiDi CoCo’s Southern Comfort, provided a fun and engaging environment for families.
This event marked an important step in our Ready Kids East County efforts to bridge gaps for Black families and promote equity in early childhood services. Its success highlights how powerful community collaboration can be in creating more equitable and supportive spaces for families. We extend our appreciation to all the community partners, volunteers, and families who made this event possible. We’d also like to give a special thank you to Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston for her ongoing dedication to uplifting families in East County and championing our Ready Kids efforts.
If you couldn’t attend the event or are seeking support in East County, explore our Ready Kids East County Resource Kit—a curated collection of valuable information and services from our partners who participated in the fair.
We’ve also created a family-friendly landing page featuring resources and events specifically for Black and African American families in East County. Click here to explore the Ready Kids East County page.
This work is made possible through a strategic public-private partnership that leverages funding from California’s Proposition 10 alongside philanthropic contributions, including from the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation

Help Me Grow Contra Costa videos share the importance of developmental screenings—now available in multiple languages

In our ongoing efforts to raise awareness of early intervention services and resources for parents of children ages 0-5, First 5 Contra Costa has created an animated video that educates and highlights the important role that developmental screenings play in supporting children’s development.
In the video, we share how parenting can feel overwhelming and raise questions about a child’s development. Although every baby grows at their own pace, we emphasize that these early years are important for hitting key milestones. Through a quick and easy developmental screening, parents can see if their child is developing like other children their age and Help Me Grow Contra Costa can connect parents to services that support children with, or at risk of developing, disabilities, delays, or socio-emotional challenges.
The videos are currently available in multiple languages, including:
English, Spanish, ASL, Farsi, Tagalog, and Cantonese.
Help Me Grow Contra Costa is a free resource for parents, caregivers, and professionals who work with children from birth to age 5. Whether you have questions about development, behavior, or just want peace of mind, we’re here to support you and little ones every step of the way. https://helpmegrowcoco.org/
If you would like to receive materials related to Help Me Grow, please reach out to Liliana Gonzalez, Early Childhood Program Officer, at lgonzalez@first5coco.org

Supporting Inclusion in Early Care & Education Environments: A convening on neurodiversity that you can learn from even if you don’t attend
Inclusion Convening on Neurodiversity:

This Saturday, May 17, First 5 Contra Costa will host an event for child care providers that focuses on inclusion strategies for neurodiverse children in child care. The Inclusion Convening on Neurodiversity, will feature keynote speaker, Dani Bowman, Founder and CEO of DaniMation Entertainment and cast member of Love on the Spectrum.
The SOLD OUT event also includes two workshops with Stephanie Tangsombatvisit, MD, a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician, and Amanda Campbell, Co-founder and Director of Clinical Services at the Center for Early Childhood Connections, along with a panel discussion with families to hear firsthand experiences and insights from parents raising neurodivergent children in our community. There will also be a lunchtime resource fair for attendees to connect with local early intervention providers and community organizations.
Registration is currently full, but we’ll be sharing video highlights and resources from the event afterward to continue supporting inclusive early care and education environments. Click here to learn more about our speakers and see the full agenda.
Video: Promoting Inclusive Learning Environments
First 5 Contra Costa is committed to supporting early childhood educators to build inclusive learning environments that support the diverse strengths and needs of all children during their critical years of early development.
We’ve created a video and landing page that highlight some commonly used tools and strategies for how to adapt current environments and curriculum to support all children, including a quick guide that offers ideas, activities, and materials for children 18 months to 36 months, a visual timer to facilitate smooth transitions, sensory mats to help regulate emotions, and communication cards to provide children with a different way to communicate.
The videos and landing pages are available in English and Spanish
Several of the efforts listed above related to making child care programs more inclusive of children with disabilities, delays or socio-emotional needs were made possible by county funding from Measure X. Thank you to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors for their leadership in investing in making child care programs in our county more inclusive for all children.
Click here if you’d like to learn more about Supporting Inclusive Early Care and Education Environments

Just Released! Supporting Immigrant Families Toolkit

As your trusted partner and resource, we are proud to offer a comprehensive toolkit designed to promote safety, foster community connections, and support the overall well-being of immigrant families with young children in our county. This curated kit brings together essential information, tools, and resources to help families navigate uncertain times with confidence and resilience.
The toolkit is organized into several key sections to meet the needs of immigrant families, including:
- Strengthening Families – strategies and resources to support healthy child development, parenting, and family resilience.
- Family Preparedness – guidance to help families plan for emergencies and ensure their children’s care and security.
- Know Your Rights – clear, accessible information to help individuals understand their legal rights and how to exercise them safely.
- Legal Services – connections to trusted legal aid organizations offering support with immigration and other critical matters.
The entire toolkit is downloadable, printer-friendly, and available in English and Spanish.